Stokesia plant named `Purple Parasols`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Stokesia plant named `Purple Parasols`, characterized by its vigorous plant growth habit and moderate growth rate; large, showy inflorescences; ray florets that initially are light blue, becoming darker blue, then bluish purple to reddish purple and dark hot pink with further development; numerous inflorescences per plant; and good container, cut flower and garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Stokesiaplant, botanically known as Stokesia cyanea, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Purple Parasols.

The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor in the summer of 1993 asa naturally-occurring mutation of a seed-produced unidentified selectionof Stokesia cyanea in a greenhouse in Hebron, Ky.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by divisions taken at Hebron,Ky., has shown that the unique features of this new Stokesia are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The cultivar Purple Parasols has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Purple Parasols`. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish `Purple Parasols` as a newand distinct cultivar:

1. Vigorous plant growth habit and moderate growth rate.

2. Large, showy inflorescences.

3. Ray florets that intially are light blue, becoming darker blue, thenbluish purple to reddish purple and dark hot pink with furtherdevelopment.

4. Numerous inflorescences per plant.

5. Good container, cut flower and garden performance.

The new Stokesia can be compared to the commercial nonpatented Stokesiacultivar Blue Danube. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted inHebron, Ky., the new Stokesia has more inflorescences, larger and tallerinflorescences, longer lasting inflorescences, and seeds produced aresmaller in diameter. In addition, the ray floret color of the newStokesia changes from light blue to bluish purple to redddish purple todark hot pink whereas the ray floret color of plants of the cultivarBlue Danube is typically light blue.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the appearance of thenew cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph comprises aclose-up view of typical mature inflorescences of `Purple Parasols`.Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may appear different fromthe actual colors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations,measurements and numerical values were taken from typical containerizedplants grown in Hebron, Ky.; Mount Vernon, Wash.; and Keller, Tex.during the spring and summer under outdoor production practice.

Botanical classification: Stokesia cyanea cultivar Purple Parasols.

Commercial classification: Perennial garden, cut flower, orcontainerized plant.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring mutation of a seed-produced unidentifiedselection of Stokesia cyanea.

Propagation:

Type.--By division.

Time to initiate roots.--Usually 20 to 30 days at 21° C.

Rooting habit.--Numerous and fibrous.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous decorative garden, cut flower orcontainerized plant. Uniform mounted plant habit. During periods of cooltemperatures, flowering stems are longer and more upright than duringthe summer.

Plant size.--Height at flowering: 15 to 30 cm. Plant height or spread:About 65 cm.

Vigor.--Vigorous and moderate growth rate.

Crop time.--About 22 weeks are required from a rooted plant to afinished, flowering 15-cm garden container.

Foliage description.--Length: Up to 25 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape:Oblong-lanceolate or spatulate with pointed apex and attenuate base.Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous and dull, pronounced midrib on abaxialsurface. Color: Young foliage, adaxial surface: 141A. Young foliage,abaxial surface: 141C. Mature foliage, adaxial surface: 135A. Maturefoliage, abaxial surface: 138B. Venation color, adaxial surface: 145C.Venation color, abaxial surface: 145C. Petiole: 135A overlaid with 187B.Petiole: Length: 3 to 6 mm. Width: 3 to 6 mm.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Single flowers arranged in corymbs. Freelyflowering, very floriferous with new buds continuing to develop fromspring through fall.

Natural flowering season.--Spring through fall in Northern Hemisphere.Flowers persistent.

Inflorescences borne.--Above foliage, arising from leaf axils.

Time to flower.--Under typical spring/summer growing temperatures,plants of the new Stokesia will start flowering 18 to 24 weeks afterpropagation.

Inflorescence longevity.--On the plant, inflorescences usually last oneto three weeks depending on temperature. As a cut flower, inflorescencesmaintain good substance for about two weeks under interior conditions.

Inflorescence diameter.--5 to 12 cm.

Inflorescence depth (height).--2.5 to 5 cm.

Quantity.--Usually 25 to 50 inflorescences are formed per plant duringthe flowering season.

Inflorescence aspect.--Upright, usually perpendicular to the peduncle.

Inflorescence buds.--Length: 2 to 4 cm. Diameter: 2 to 4 cm. Shape:Rounded. Rate of opening: 2 to 3 days from tight bud to open flower.Color: 141A to 141C.

Ray florets.--Shape: Pleated, elongated, enlarging at apex, apexdentate. Size: Length: 1.25 to 2 cm. Width: 3 to 9 mm. Margin: Entire.Texture: Satiny and glabrous. Number of ray florets per inflorescence:16 to 26. Color: Ray floret color changes as inflorescences open anddevelop. Color changes occur one to three days depending on temperaturewith color changes occurring more rapidly under higher temperatures.

When opening: Going from light blue, 109B, to medium blue, 105B, to darkblue, 104A. Mature: Going from bluish purple, 96A, to blue purple, 90A,to red purple, 87A, to reddish purple, 64A, to purplish red, 66A, todark hot pink, 80A.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Strong and erect. Length: 5 to 10 cm. Color: 135Aoverlaid with 187B.

Sepals.--Appearance: Pleated, entire and serrate margins, apex, acute.Quantity: 16 to 26. Shape: Lanceolate. Color: Adaxial surface: 141A.Abaxial surface: 141C.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Quantity: 40 to 60. Anther color:White. Pollen: Trace, white in color. Gynoecium: Quantity: 40 to 60.Pistil length: 0.5 to 1 mm. Stigma shape: Tubular. Stigma color: 155B.Style length: 1 to 2 mm. Style color: 155B. Ovary color: 157C.

Disease resistance: Similar to other Stokesias, leaf spot isoccasionally observed.

Seed production:

Size.--Length: About 0.2 mm. Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color: 199D.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Stokesia plant named`Purple Parasols`, as illustrated and described.